mosely. miracles. in the middle.
Can I just talk about this one for a little while?
She is sweet and sharp and sensitive.
Mosely is clever and brave and the only person in our home willing to kill spiders for the rest of us weaklings when Daddy’s at work.
She is eight years old, a second grader and a struggling reader.
The teaching of reading, the concept of words on paper, has been a struggle for Mosely since kindergarten.
We both watched London catch the reading fever in full swing around first grade.
And then we both watched Bergen conquer words like nobody’s business the first day of kindergarten.
And there she was.
Mosely.
Middle. Big sister reading. Little brother reading.
And Mosely was miserable.
Words were a confusing mess on the page and even “the” seemed forgettable and difficult.
It was all a struggle.
The methods we tried . . .
Hooked on Phonics, Delightful Reading, workbooks, computer programs, aps, worksheets, flashcards, tears, pleading, extensive testing through our public school system, advice from special education teachers, writing in sand, tracing letters in the air . . .
Then a divine moment.
I’ll try to give you the brief version.
Last summer – a conversation with a friend at a children’s museum, overheard by a stranger. Stranger slides me a piece of paper with her name and number on it. Says she’s a reading specialist and thinks she can help. Feel a little weird about it. Ignore it for a few weeks. No progress at all with Mosely. Frustration for both of us reaching all new levels. Look for piece of paper. Lost. Try a new phonics program. Not successful. Weeks pass. Randomly discover piece of paper in bag one day. Wait another week. Decide to call. Turns out she is a retired reading specialist. Over twenty-five years of experience. Agree to meet at a coffee shop. We spend three or four hours evaluating Mosely, teaching me how to teach her, encouraging me that my daughter is not dyslexic, does not have impossible reading issues, simply lacks the tools of recognizing that the space between the letters on the page means something. Spends time watching me teach Mosely so I can continue at home. Sends me supplies in the mail and helpful little tools. Refuses to accept any form of payment.
Fast forward to now. About three weeks later.
This week Mosely read a Frog and Toad book to me.
It feels like a miracle.
I found her reading a book to Otto Fox at nap time yesterday.
(There are still words she cannot decipher, but we are talking about a kid who cried at the sight of books and would never pick one up without being forced to. Voluntarily reading to her brother!)
In the car – she points out a few road signs. Reads some words.
I am thrilled.
Thrilled at her current and precious lack of distaste for the printed word.
Thrilled that God used a chance encounter to change our daughter’s educational life.
Thrilled that reading is not the torture it once was for my middle Mosely.
Thrilled at the future opportunities this creates for her.
We are not where we need to be.
Not yet.
But thank the Lord, we are not where we have been.
16 Comments
Shelby
That is awesome Lacey! I think about your sweet Mosely a lot! Jesus brings divine assistance through the strangest means. 🙂 Love you all!
Alicia
This is so wonderful – and such a relief! What a beautiful gift from a stranger. 🙂
Nicole Ouwenga-Scott
loved reading this! thank you for sharing your struggle. super duper congratulations to mosely!
shelley
I am so so so so happy for you!! What a gift from God!
Sunshine leister
Reads road signs…that is a sure fire way to tell you have a reader!
Gretchen
Oh, that is so AWESOME!!! God is so cool huh? What an awesome thing, no chance encounter at all!!!! How cool! Yeah for Mosely and for Mommy and Daddy loving her through these difficult times! 🙂 That is great!
@mommymcg
YES!!! Go Mosely! So thrilled (for you both)!!
LaceyKeigley
Thanks!!
Sally
can she come here? Ella, my 2nd grader is not a reader at all. We have tried Delightful Reading, but nothing sticks in her brain. I had anti-hooked of Phonics propaganda all through college, so I am trying to open my mind to that. NOt there yet. sigh. any advice, or a phone number, maybe? 🙂
LaceyKeigley
I have been anti-Phonics too. And really tried other things. With London I gave in and tried the actual Hooked on Phonics computer program. It completely worked for her and she was reading within two weeks of using the computer program. Berg hardly even needed that. It was as if he was born to words.
But Delightful Reading was not good for Mosely at all.
I'd be happy to share info too – although it'd be about a billion times easier in person than on the phone. We could try skype? And I really could give you her phone number too. 🙂
Jill
I remember being certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would NEVER learn how to read. I still remember tears and struggling and jumbles of letters and phonics footprints on the floor and more tears. How I hated it. Now I devour books and can't imagine life without the printed word. Congrats Mosely! Welcome to a wonderful new world.
LaceyKeigley
It's interesting that you remember the struggle. That makes me both happy and sad. Happy that my kids may remember some of these years and experiences together. Sad that she might recall my struggles and frustrations too.
So glad that you made it to the other side and there is hope for us as well! 🙂
Rhonda
Been there, done that with Morgan. I'm glad things are progressing. On a side note, that picture of her and Kevin – FANTASTICALLY FABULOUS!
LaceyKeigley
I have to agree – it's such a sweet shot!
Allie Pust
Oh my goodness Lacey. More Spirit work through strangers! Awesome. Keep at it!!
LaceyKeigley
Isn't that the truth? 🙂 So fortunate.